Jim Harbaugh, Pete Carroll and holiday cards lost in the mail

SANTA CLARA -- Jim Harbaugh's relationship with Pete Carroll never falls short of fun drama. Wednesday's offering between the 49ers' and Seattle Seahawks' coaches had to do with: Christmas cards, or lack thereof.

During Harbaugh's afternoon press conference, he was asked to describe the "hallmark" of Carroll-coach teams. Harbaugh, in a deadpan attempt at humor, replied: "I don't remember getting any cards from him, at the holidays."

The joke bombed ... until Carroll gave it some life 1﻿1/2 hours later in his conference call with Bay Area media.

"I heard he didn't get one from us yet," Carroll said of a Christmas card. "I'll go back and check my list to see how that happened.

"If Jim's not sending a card, that's OK, I'll understand. We'll send one along in the mail soon."

Harbaugh's 49ers have defeated Carroll's Seahawks in their three meetings dating back to last season, and the coaches' checkered history dates back to their college-coaching days when Harbaugh was at Stanford and Carroll at USC.

On a follow-up question, Harbaugh was asked if he indeed sends a Christmas card to Carroll. Harbaugh's answer: "No."